Interesting Local Take on Flag Issue

It is indeed tragic that the Confederate flag has become synonymous with the Swastika when it also represents something entirely different. Though the Civil War is popularly regarded as the war that ended slavery, it can also be seen as the war that gave rise to the "military-industrial" complex.

The motto "In God We Trust" first appeared on coins during or just before the Civil War. The war resulted in a much stronger federal government that used patriotism and religion to extract loyalty from students in the public schools that multiplied so rapidly after the war.

On a more trivial note, the Confederate flag - and Southern flags based on its design, even including Arkansas' - rank with the flags of Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico and Maryland as the most attractive and sensibly designed state flags.

I'm not saying minorities are wrong to hate the Confederate flag, because it also represents racism. I'm just saying its tragic that it bears that stain. If the Confederates had freed their slaves, then fought only to preserve their independence, the Confederate flag could fly with honor.